Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 957 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

wath 3 a “| fis c- (\¢ £ * ‘ Y , | xe 14 speaking to no one, and no one was seen >to follow him. For an hour, perhaps, no one set out upon the same trail, and then several men left Chihuahua on foot in the same direction. These went independently of one an- other, and seemingly had nothing in com- mon, but they had not proceeded a long ~way before they proved to be “birds of a feather.” Ere they had gone a long dis- tanee farther they were mounted, and after a time they again parted company. Meanwhile Samuel Hedgeworth, Jr., was going straight ahead on the trail, having seen no one, and there was nothing to -arouse the suspicion of men who had been Shadowing him closely to this time, from the hour when he had come out from Mr. ‘Bamford’s store in Chihuahua on the pre- ~vyious day. No stranger would guess or: ‘imagine that his saddle-bags were filled with gold. Some miles out from the city, Hedge- “worth came suddenly upon a horseman who was waiting for him at a bend of the trail He recognized the suave gentleman of the day before. ‘‘Good-morning, Mr. Hedgeworth,” was the greeting. “I suppose you have kept ‘your word and have come alone?” None knew that better than this very man himself, since he was. one of those mentioned as having departed from Chi- thuahua an hour after Hedgeworth had set “out upon the trail. “Entirely alone, sir, believe me,” as- sured Hedgeworth, after an exchange of greeting. “I suppose you are here to con- ‘duct me to the place where I am to have the interview with my father? The more TIT have thought about the matter, the ‘plainer it seems that you hold the wit ning hand.” “T am glad that you see it in the right ‘light, sir. Yes, I will conduct you to him, vafter the business matter concerning Bam- . ford’s son has been attended to. I sup- ‘pose you have brought the gold?” “Tt is here in these saddle-bags. It is for you to say what is to be done with it.” “No, it is not for me to say.” “““WVho, then?” | “*'The chief of the Forty.” “ Well, no matter; you will help me to ccarry it in safety?” “That is a part of the business I have to perform, sir. You are aware that it is a ong distance?” | “TI supposed it was not a short one, but I have no idea how far it is.” | “We can do it in a day, by adding half ‘of the night to the day, but if you prefer / we can make two stages of the journey.” “Tf it is all the same to you, then, we will take two days for it.” “Very well.” Late in the afternoon, after many hours’ riding and no adventure worth mention- ing, they put up at a Mexican hacienda. At an early hour on the following morn- ing they resumed their Journey, and ere the forenoon was spent were making their way up into the mountain fastnesses, in the direction of Devil's Delight. Having nothing in common, save the i guarding of the gold, their comversation had been scant enough. Presently the guide remarked; * We may expect | of Forty at any time now, Mr. Hedge- re ¥ : » + +A) ‘ p ayy rail A - . iy fat s ’ ‘ ey i. Vil fae . r Pit Ot i 7 pir 4 ‘4 ate J. : ~ f 4 worth. iP 3 a am not sorry,” was the response. will be welcome. It even to get among your cut-throat band, my assured.’ g to break this dreary monotony will be a relief ” vee « y Mein aauamahian puntata tahoe "“ Should I eall them gentlemen?” _ The other, who, by the way, had given \ ait te san Re su? § dy’ - 4 } in : . rg »* it $7 fi ‘ f —— i. P a7 - ' Ar te 4 . . © @ d : ; 2 : : oad], Sat » tel ces vy atk ef 7 1 ha? tes ‘4 Y ; oy . o , Vy "</ Ay + r 7 Fan’) Ar ‘ yy "y _) an <= es Rik "a ? a eS ae - Ser ? Wp ) ase ie to hear from the Flock | , “4 »4 ~~ » Tl i ” > P a * “a io Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Ten-Strike. his name as Sonora Sam, laughed lightly, and no more was said. In the course of the hour they came to an open glade in the mountains, where some splendid trees offered inviting shade if they would stop there to rest, and of a sudden Sonora Sam drew rein. “Look there!” he cried, pointing to a notice on one of the trees. “We have di- rections what to do!” Hedgeworth looked at the placard in surprise. It ran thus, with some further directions in Spanish: ‘LEAVE THE GOLD HERE IN THE HOL- LOW OF THE TREE. “Fr. OF F.” ‘And we are to leave it here?’ Hedge- worth asked, in surprise. ‘* Most certainly; so we are told to do.” “But suppose this is not genuine? Sup- pose it is only a trick to get the money—” “No, no, I know better than that. See what is said in Spanish. I am told to look in the hollow of the tree for my fur- ther directions.” So saying, Sonora Sam rode up to the tree, tore down the placard, and there was the hollow exposed to view, the placard having been tacked over it, and into that hollow he thrust his hand. He drew out a folded piece of paper, which he read aloud: “S. S.: Your man reached us. All right. Leave the gold and come on with the man for the interview. Tell him that he will be in no danger, and will be allowed to depart as he eame. This interview, however, must be to the point, and final. ‘“ COMMANDER, F. OF F.” “ Well, I have nothing to say,” remarked Hedgeworth. “If you insist that it is all right, here we will deposit the money.” “Tt is what you are ordered to do. I might add that if you do not do so, some- thing may happen that is not expressed here on the poster, nor yet in the note I have read to you.” “And what might that be?’ The man merely shrugged his shoulders. “Well, here are the bags,’”’ said Hedge- worth. “Deposit them, and let us press on. The further I proceed, the more convinced I am that my father will have to give what you demand.” “I think you will be the more convinced of it presently,” was the grim rejoinder. Hedgeworth handed the bags to his guide, who put them into the hollow of the tree as directed, and they rode on thetr way. “How much further to that camp?” asked Hedgeworth. “To Devil’s Delight?” “We are not going there, for they might interfere if they happen to suspect that I am one of the Flock of Forty.” “Then they’ are not friendly to the Flock?” “Far from it!. The Flock has more than once \despoiled some of their good citi- Zens,” | Hedgeworth knew the man was lying, after the revelation made by Deadwood Dick, but it was policy for him to pretend ee was deceived and raise no argu- ment, ) “Then we will go direct to the strong- hold?” where their horses’ hoofs left no marks, they turned! aside and scrambled over the stones until they presently dropped into another trail. | Sonora Sam now enjoined silence, and in silence they proceeded, the trail leading Sen up into a deep and narrow mountain e. ) . Finally, somewhere above them, the| clang of a signal gong was heard, resound- - » d d . : 7 } é $ : *") . ‘ . v7 rts ‘lie AKO j ; 4h. : CA ® a ® ' jah . * bh tA M hp df i Me n' é? P .] . .* A Tf) Bee © ‘ ‘ Je = dpe ia. A? ad) rs 4S 2 6t Faia ake ~~ : : 4 )! - Sesh Go ; er ye : ' 7 } « 74 . ‘ - 1 -, <i) - rey ' + Ay ~* , ; A y A sai i) My Dade se - ‘ ee — = ated easels datas nceteeadttedatenag apie iota lndtiaeniina inn kehakeee ; We: other moment it struck once again. have noticed it before. A little further, and then the challenge: “ Halt! Who comes?” ‘One of the Forty, with a visitor.” “Advance, One, and give the counter- sign.” , Sonora Sam rode forward and spoke a word in a low tone, It was enough, and they were allowed to pass without further hindrance. They continued on in silence, and pres- ently yet another signal gong rang out the number of approaching horsemen. Finally they came in sight of the old Aztec temple already described, which looked far less hideous under the light of day than it had in the darkness of that stormy night. Within were some men moving about, looking like harmless idlers in the sun rather than brigands, and who merely glanced up when the two horse- men rode into the enclosure. CHAPTER XVII. DICK AND AIDS AT WORK. Meanwhile, something had been taking place at Devil’s Delight. In the small hours of the morning, when the camp was in deepest slumber and the night was darkest, a man stole softly into the shanty city. He moved along like a shadow, seemed familiar with the way, and knew where he was going. He went straight to the domicile occupied by Injun Inez, and there tapped lightly on the rear door, He did not have to rap a second time. In a moment the door was opened a little way and a voice asked: ; “Who is there?’ “A friend returned,” was the response. The door swung open at once, and the man entered the shanty quickly. “Well, what success?” the woman asked. “The best,” the answer. done your part?” “Yes, everything is arranged, and now it all depends on you. Dare you carry it out?” “TI don’t know the meaning of the word fear, woman,” was the rejoinder to that. “All I ask of you is to conduct me within the circle, as you have promised.” ‘When will you go?” * At once.” “Wait; I will be ready in five minutes,” “Have you The woman went into another room, but soon returned, saying: ‘IT am ready. The secret I am about to disclose to you is known to but few, if, in- deed, to any one besides myself. Not even the ohief of the Flock of Forty knows it.” “So much the better for my plans, Inez. Have you provided the means, as agreed 2”, “ Dverything is prepared.” They. left the shanty, closing the doom’ silently and moved off up the gulch. ( — Se ——— LR — - on ~~ a a sn — aS tilt Se a ae + a ” 2 ee ee to athe ame - << WR mas te DP 7 | A Entering the pass we have before de | cribed, they proceeded for some distance in the direction of the old temple, but at length turned off at a sharp angle and climbed up the rocks. _Injun Inez led the way, climbing like a cat from point ¢o point, directIng her fol- lower from time to time. | He, need we say, was Deadwood Dick, At length a level place was reached, and on the other side of that was a narrow — fissure between two gigantic rocks. Into that fissure the old hag squeezed, Dick following her, and in a few moments it had widened sufficiently for them to The way led down- | ward. | : a | minaily oe on rough stone steps, and on reaching these the crone st ‘oe to make a light. ¥ ernee F, 7) yi * ho 4 .* 6 ~ | ak “se My . we » r tg Pee o eal ef me .. re ae Peg) * 5 4 * le * * ~ L « 4 iL 1% —_ Atat eae FAL fp + ; : ay rn ee” Ay ¢-} po yA GJ a 4 5 || | Tay :° ‘ ye a 5* j 4. : eared aA _ . a. \ fey Aaa